Sudoku game board kit and method

ABSTRACT

A board game kit includes a Sudoku board, a set of board markers, and a plurality of standard six-sided dice. The board game kit is useful for providing a Sudoku board game for competitive play by a plurality of players.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

The present application is related to and claims priority to U.S.Provisional Patent Application No. 62/458,021 filed Feb. 13, 2017, whichis incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The following includes information that may be useful in understandingthe present disclosure. It is not an admission that any of theinformation provided herein is prior art nor material to the presentlydescribed or claimed inventions, nor that any publication or documentthat is specifically or implicitly referenced is prior art.

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to the field of games and morespecifically relates to a Sudoku board game.

2. Description of Related Art

Sudoku is a widely popular game. It is a logic-based, combinatorialnumber-placement puzzle. The objective is to fill a 9×9 grid with digitsso that each column, each row, and each of the nine 3×3 subgrids thatcompose the grid contains all of the digits from 1 to 9. The puzzlesetter provides a partially completed grid, which for a well-posedpuzzle has a single solution. However, it's typically enjoyed alonewithout any friendly competition or additional challenges.

Board games that lend themselves to team play provide an opportunity forbuilding communication skills. People who prefer to play games withfriends and or a group of people may not even attempt to playtraditional Sudoku. A suitable solution is desired.

U.S. Pat. No. 7,677,570 to Michael Hohenstein relates to a competitiveSudoku board game. The described competitive Sudoku board game includesa competitive board game for two to nine players is disclosed. The gameboard is initialized by placing markers on the game board in a specifiedfashion. Distinct markers are distributed, and play progresses in turnby each player placing a marker on the game board such that each row,column, and box does not contain two identical markers. In analternative embodiment, a board game for team play is disclosed. Theboard game may also be implemented in a computer or other electronicdevice.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known board gamesart, the present disclosure provides a novel Sudoku game board kit andmethod. The general purpose of the present disclosure, which will bedescribed subsequently in greater detail, is to provide a Sudoku boardgame that can be used for competitive play by a plurality of players.

A board game kit for competitive play is disclosed herein. The boardgame kit for competitive play may include a Sudoku board, a set of boardmarkers, and a plurality of standard six-sided dice. The Sudoku boardincludes a parent grid defined by nine sub-grids arranged 3-by-3 on theSudoku board, the plurality of sub-grids each including nine cellssegmented into rows and columns arranged 3-by-3 within its respectivesub-grid. Each board marker has two sides and is configured forremovable placement of one of the two sides on an individual cell of theSudoku board. Further, each board marker includes a number indicia on afirst side which has a first format and the number indicia on a secondside which has a second format, the first format distinguishable fromthe second format. Additionally, the set of two-sided board markersincludes at least nine two-sided board markers indicating each numberbetween one and nine.

A method of using a board game kit for competitive play is alsodisclosed herein. The method of using a board game kit for competitiveplay may include the steps of: providing the board game kit as above;competitive playing by the plurality of players using the Sudoku board,the set of board markers, and the plurality of standard six-sided dice;compactly folding the Sudoku board; inserting the set of board markersinto the storage pouch; and storing the compactly folded Sudoku board,the storage pouch may include the set of board markers, and theplurality of six-sided dice within the game board box.

For purposes of summarizing the invention, certain aspects, advantages,and novel features of the invention have been described herein. It is tobe understood that not necessarily all such advantages may be achievedin accordance with any one particular embodiment of the invention. Thus,the invention may be embodied or carried out in a manner that achievesor optimizes one advantage or group of advantages as taught hereinwithout necessarily achieving other advantages as may be taught orsuggested herein. The features of the invention which are believed to benovel are particularly pointed out and distinctly claimed in theconcluding portion of the specification. These and other features,aspects, and advantages of the present invention will become betterunderstood with reference to the following drawings and detaileddescription.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The figures which accompany the written portion of this specificationillustrate embodiments and methods of use for the present disclosure, aSudoku game board kit and method, constructed and operative according tothe teachings of the present disclosure.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a board game kit for competitive playduring an ‘in-use’ condition, according to an embodiment of thedisclosure.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the board game kit of FIG. 1, accordingto an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 3 is a detail view of the board game kit of FIG. 1, illustrating aset of board markers, according to an embodiment of the presentdisclosure.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the board game kit of FIG. 1, accordingto an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 5 is a flow diagram illustrating a method of use for a board gamekit for competitive play, according to an embodiment of the presentdisclosure.

The various embodiments of the present invention will hereinafter bedescribed in conjunction with the appended drawings, wherein likedesignations denote like elements.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

As discussed above, embodiments of the present disclosure relate togames and more particularly to a Sudoku game board kit and method asused to improve the Sudoku game by providing competitive play by aplurality of players.

Generally, the present disclosure is a game system that allows playersto build their own Sudoku playing board as they solve puzzles. Itaccommodates one to four individual players or up to four teams. Thisprevents boredom with traditional Sudoku puzzles in books, newspapers,and magazines. Team Sudoku may combine the traditional game of Sudokuwith a board game that allows players to play with or against otherplayers and incorporates more challenges. The system may include aSudoku board game for one to four players or up to four teams with aplaying board, measuring approximately 14″ length and 14″ width, with a2″ blue border around the edge and number squares on all four sides. Thename of the game can be printed on each side within the blue border.Each number square can have a slightly raised border with a heavy, 0.25″thick outline. Within the number squares can be thinner gridlines,creating smaller squares, measuring approximately by 1″ in length and 1″in width.

The disclosed board game kit provides, for a method of play, a uniquegame. The objective of the game may be to solve the game and be theplayer with the lowest score. The game can be played with one to fourplayers. Further, the game may include six dice. A team can play withall six dice or reduce the number to make game more challenging. Inoperation, the team may first determine the elimination score for thegame. The higher the score the longer the game may take. Each player mayroll one dice. The highest number on the dice may be the first player(matched numbers have a play off and roll again). The game can rotateclockwise or counter clockwise. The winning player can use the number onthe dice he or she rolled to make the choice of how many dice are usedto play. The first player may take all six dice (or number rolled instep two) and roll them all at once (lesser number of dice can be usedto make game more challenging). If all dice rolled are the number 1, theperson rolling the dice can roll a second time and add all dice fromboth rolls as a total. Then, the player may total up the dice and selectthat number of squares from the bag. The first player may position thetiles on the board with red side up and no matching numbers in samecolumn, row or 9 block square, or tiles may be divided up betweenplayers and all players position the red tiles. Player or players canput as many red numbers in square of nine blocks, row or column as he orshe chooses as long as there are no matches. All players may check theboard for errors (no identical numbers in column, row or same block of 9squares). The red tiles may then be locked in place.

After the red tiles have been laid down, starting with first player,each player may take 10 tiles from the bag and lay with blue numbers up.The players can hide numbers from other players or lay out in open forall to see. After the first player has made his or hers play, a gametile is pulled from the game bag (this will happen until all squareshave been used up in bag). Going in either clockwise or counterclockwise rotation, the next player may lay a game tile on the gameboard and draw a new game piece from the bag. This may continue untilthe game is solved or stopped due to a mismatched tile in column, row,or block of 9 squares and game ends.

A player during his play may move a blue game tile in that nine blockgroup to another square in the same nine block group. Red game piecescannot be moved after the first blue square has be placed on the board.Movement of a blue game tile is that player's play and he or she musttake a square from the bag. (If no squares are left in the bag, nosquare is taken and game continues). The blue squares may be movedseveral times in the same 9 block group during a game however this willresult in additional game pieces for that player until the game bag isempty.

If the game is solved, each player gets a negative 25 on score andeveryone is a winner. If the game cannot be solved and ends due to amatch tile in a row, column or 9 block square each player totals theirtiles and this is a positive score. A new game can be started.

During the game, if a player lays a square in error during his play(matches another square in the same row, column, or 9 block square,player can be challenged by another player only during that play). Eachof the other players may give one of their tiles to the player that madethe error, and the game comes to an end. Each player totals his squares(adds the numbers) and puts on a score sheet a positive number. If anerror is found that was made in a previous play and was not challengedduring the play of that tile in question, the game may end and eachplayer totals squares and adds to the score sheet.

Referring now more specifically to the drawings by numerals ofreference, there is shown in FIGS. 1-4, various views of a board gamekit 100 for competitive play.

FIG. 1 shows a board game kit 100 for competitive play during an‘in-use’ condition 50, according to an embodiment of the presentdisclosure. As illustrated, the board game kit for competitive play 100may include a Sudoku board 110, a set of board markers 120, and aplurality of standard six-sided dice 130. In a preferred embodiment, theboard game kit 100 may further include a marker storage pouch 122configured to store the set of board markers 120.

FIG. 2 shows a front perspective view of the board game kit forcompetitive play 100 of FIG. 1, according to an embodiment of thepresent disclosure. As above, the board game kit 100 may include theSudoku board 110, the set of board markers 120, and the plurality ofstandard six-sided dice 130. Illustrated here is the Sudoku board 110and the set of board markers 120 during play of the game. As shown, theSudoku board 110 may include a parent grid 114 defined by nine sub-grids111 arranged 3-by-3 on the Sudoku board 110, the plurality of sub-grids111 each including nine cells 112 segmented into rows and columnsarranged 3-by-3 within its respective sub-grid. In the preferredembodiment, each cell 112 may be square in shape. Further, each of thenine sub-grids 111 may include a raised border configured to inhibit atleast one of the set of board markers 120 from movement between the ninesub-grids 111.

The set of board markers 120 may each have two sides, and may beconfigured for removable placement of one of the two sides on anindividual cell of the Sudoku board 110. Each board marker 120 may besquare in shape. Accordingly, each board marker 120 may be a tile-shapedand may be sized and dimensioned to cover each individual cell 112.Similarly, each board marker 120 may have a footprint substantiallyequal in size to each individual cell 112. In one embodiment, each boardmarker 120 may be at least 1 inch×1 inch in size.

The board game kit 100 may further include a board marker holder 123configured to retain the board markers 120 during competitive play.Further, the board marker holder 123 may be configured to obscure thenumber indicia 121 on the board markers 120 from at least one of theplurality of players 40 (FIG. 1).

FIG. 3 shows a front perspective view of the board game kit forcompetitive play 100, according to an embodiment of the presentdisclosure. Shown here is the board marker 120 illustrating a first side124 having a first format, and a second side 125 having a second format,and the plurality of standard six-sided dice 130. As above, the set ofboard markers 120 may each have two sides and may be configured forremovable placement of one of the two sides on an individual cell of theSudoku board 110. Each board marker may further include a number indicia121 on a first side having a first format and the number indicia 121 ona second side having a second format, the first format distinguishablefrom the second format, the set of two-sided board markers 120 includingat least nine two-sided board markers 120 indicating each number betweenone and nine. The first format may include a first color and the secondformat may include a second color. In the preferred embodiment, thefirst color may be red, and the second color may be blue. In furtherexamples, the first color and the second color may be chosen from green,purple, yellow, pink, orange, and the like. In one embodiment, eachboard marker 120 may be made of a plastic. In further examples, eachboard marker 120 may be made of a ceramic, stone, metal, glass, or thelike.

In the preferred embodiment, the plurality of standard six-sided dice130 may be a set of 6 die. All 6 die may be used at once during gameplay or the number of die may be chosen by the players 40 (FIG. 1).

As illustrated, the board game kit 100 may further include a markerstorage pouch 122 configured to retain the board markers 120. Similarly,the board game kit 100 may further include a die storage pouch 131configured to retain the plurality of standard six-sided dice 130.

FIG. 4 shows a front perspective view of the board game kit forcompetitive play 100, according to an embodiment of the presentdisclosure. Demonstrated here are the components of the board game kit100 and how they fit together. As shown, in the preferred embodiment,the Sudoku board 110 may be made from cardboard and configured to foldat least once for compact storage. Further, as illustrated, the boardgame kit 100 may include a board game box 140 configured to store theSudoku board 110, the set of board markers 120 and the plurality ofsix-sided dice 130. In addition, in this embodiment, the board game kit100 may include the set of instructions 150 describing a method ofcompetitive play for the plurality of players 40 (FIG. 1). The boardgame kit 100 may further include the marker storage pouch 122 configuredto retain the board markers 120, and the die storage pouch 131configured to retain the plurality of standard six-sided dice 130.

FIG. 5 is a flow diagram illustrating a method of using a board game kitfor competitive play 500, according to an embodiment of the presentdisclosure. As illustrated, the method of using a board game kit forcompetitive play 500 may include the steps of: step one 501, providingthe board game kit 100 as above; step two 502, competitive playing bythe plurality of players 40 using the Sudoku board 110, the set of boardmarkers 120, and the plurality of standard six-sided dice 130; stepthree 503, compactly folding the Sudoku board 110; step four 504,inserting the set of board markers 120 into the storage pouch; and stepfive 505, storing the compactly folded Sudoku board 110, the storagepouch including the set of board markers 120, and the plurality ofsix-sided dice 130 within the game board box 140.

It should be noted that the steps described in the method of use can becarried out in many different orders according to user preference. Theuse of “step of” should not be interpreted as “step for”, in the claimsherein and is not intended to invoke the provisions of 35 U.S.C. §112(f). It should also be noted that, under appropriate circumstances,considering such issues as design preference, user preferences,marketing preferences, cost, structural requirements, availablematerials, technological advances, etc., other methods for a board gamekit for competitive play (e.g., different step orders withinabove-mentioned list, elimination or addition of certain steps,including or excluding certain maintenance steps, etc.), are taughtherein.

The embodiments of the invention described herein are exemplary andnumerous modifications, variations and rearrangements can be readilyenvisioned to achieve substantially equivalent results, all of which areintended to be embraced within the spirit and scope of the invention.Further, the purpose of the foregoing abstract is to enable the U.S.Patent and Trademark Office and the public generally, and especially thescientist, engineers and practitioners in the art who are not familiarwith patent or legal terms or phraseology, to determine quickly from acursory inspection the nature and essence of the technical disclosure ofthe application.

What is claimed is new and desired to be protected by Letters Patent isset forth in the appended claims:
 1. A board game kit for competitiveplay by a plurality of players, the board game kit comprising: a Sudokuboard including a parent grid defined by nine sub-grids arranged 3-by-3on the Sudoku board, the plurality of sub-grids each including ninecells segmented into rows and columns arranged 3-by-3 within itsrespective sub-grid; a set of board markers, each board marker havingtwo sides and being configured for removable placement of one of the twosides on an individual cell of the Sudoku board, each board markerincluding a number indicia on a first side having a first format and thenumber indicia on a second side having a second format, the first formatdistinguishable from the second format, the set of two-sided boardmarkers including at least nine two-sided board markers indicating eachnumber between one and nine; and a plurality of standard six-sided dice.2. The board game kit of claim 1, further comprising a marker storagepouch configured to retain the board markers.
 3. The board game kit ofclaim 1, wherein each cell is square in shape.
 4. The board game kit ofclaim 1, wherein each board marker is square in shape.
 5. The board gamekit of claim 1, wherein each board marker is a tile-shaped and is sizedand dimensioned to cover each individual cell.
 6. The board game kit ofclaim 1, wherein each board marker is made of a plastic.
 7. The boardgame kit of claim 1, further comprising a board marker holder configuredto retain the board markers during competitive play.
 8. The board gamekit of claim 7, wherein the board marker holder is further configured toobscure the number indicia on the board markers from at least one of theplurality of players.
 9. The board game kit of claim 1, wherein eachboard marker has a footprint substantially equal in size to eachindividual cell.
 10. The board game kit of claim 1, wherein each boardmarker is at least 1 inch×1 inch in size.
 11. The board game kit ofclaim 1, wherein each of the nine sub-grids include a raised borderconfigured to inhibit at least one of the set of board markers frommovement between the nine sub-grids.
 12. The board game kit of claim 1,wherein the first format includes a first color and the second formatincludes a second color.
 13. The board game kit of claim 14, wherein thefirst color is red, and the second color is blue.
 14. The board game kitof claim 1, wherein the plurality of dice is a set of 6 die.
 15. Theboard game kit of claim 1, further comprising a die storage pouchconfigured to retain the plurality of standard six-sided dice.
 16. Theboard game kit of claim 1, further comprising a board game boxconfigured to store the Sudoku board, the set of board markers and theplurality of six-sided dice.
 17. The board game kit of claim 1, whereinthe Sudoku board is made from cardboard and configured to fold at leastonce for compact storage.
 18. The board game kit of claim 1, furthercomprising a set of instructions describing a method of competitive playfor the plurality of players.
 19. A board game kit for competitive playby a plurality of players, the board game kit comprising: a Sudoku board(110) including a parent grid defined by nine sub-grids arranged 3-by-3on the Sudoku board, the plurality of sub-grids each including ninecells segmented into rows and columns arranged 3-by-3 within itsrespective sub-grid; a set of board markers (120), each board markerhaving two sides and being configured for removable placement of one ofthe two sides on an individual cell of the Sudoku board, each boardmarker including a number indicia on a first side having a first formatand the number indicia on a second side having a second format, thefirst format distinguishable from the second format, the set oftwo-sided board markers including at least nine two-sided board markersindicating each number between one and nine; and a plurality of standardsix-sided dice (130); a first storage pouch configured to retain theboard markers; a board marker holder configured to retain the boardmarkers during competitive play; a second storage pouch configured toretain the plurality of standard six-sided dice; a board game boxconfigured to store the Sudoku board, the set of board markers and theplurality of six-sided dice; a set of instructions describing a methodof competitive play for the plurality of players; and wherein each cellis square in shape; wherein each cell board marker in square in shape;wherein each board marker is tile-shaped and is sized and dimensioned tocover each individual cell; wherein the board marker holder is furtherconfigured to obscure the number indicia on the board markers to atleast one of the plurality of players; wherein each board marker has afootprint substantially equal in size to each individual cell; whereineach board marker is at least 1 inch×1 inch in size; wherein each of thenine sub-grids include a raised border configured to inhibit at leastone of the set of board markers from movement between the ninesub-grids; wherein the first format includes a first color and thesecond format includes a second color; wherein the first color is a redcolor, and the second color is a blue color; wherein the plurality ofdice is a set of 6 die; and wherein the Sudoku board is made fromcardboard and configured to fold at least once for compact storage. 20.A method of using a board game kit for competitive play by a pluralityof players, the method comprising the steps of: providing a board gamekit including: a Sudoku board including a parent grid defined by ninesub-grids arranged 3-by-3 on the Sudoku board, the plurality ofsub-grids each including nine cells segmented into rows and columnsarranged 3-by-3 within its respective sub-grid, the Sudoku board beingmade from cardboard and configured to fold at least once for compactstorage, a set of board markers, each board marker having two sides andbeing configured for removable placement of one of the two sides on anindividual cell of the Sudoku board, each board marker including anumber indicia on a first side having a first format and the numberindicia on a second side having a second format, the first formatdistinguishable from the second format, the set of two-sided boardmarkers including at least nine two-sided board markers indicating eachnumber between one and nine, a plurality of standard six-sided dice, astorage pouch configured to retain the board markers, and a board gamebox configured to store the Sudoku board, the set of board markers andthe plurality of six-sided dice; competitive playing by the plurality ofplayers using the Sudoku board, the set of board markers, and theplurality of standard six-sided dice; compactly folding the Sudokuboard; inserting the set of board markers into the storage pouch; andstoring the compactly folded Sudoku board, the storage pouch includingthe set of board markers, and the plurality of six-sided dice within thegame board box.